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Category Archives: porcelain sign

I’m looking to sell or trade this unusual 1 piece Pan Am globe that I’ve had in my collection for several years.

Pan Am was based in New Orleans, Louisiana. This early globe dates from the mid-1920’s to 1930.
This is the globe pictured in the gas pump globe CD. There are one, or possibly two of these globes known to exist. If you want something for your collection that you won’t see in other collections this globe might be for you!
There is paint around the base and on the red areas of the globe. The Pan Am lettering has wear on both sides. One side still displays nicely.
Value in the globe CD is $2500. I’m asking $2050. I’m open to offers or trades for metal or glass body globes or painted or porcelain signs of similar value.

Some of you may have had visions of Chevy Chase and his infamous weekly pratfalls on SNL when you read the title of this blog entry. If you’re looking for comedic relief you’ll have to look elsewhere. This blog entry is about my collecting adventures late this summer and early autumn.

In the closing minutes of the spring Chicagoland Petroleum and Advertising Show in Peotone, IL I made a deal for a rare Sinclair “Triple Check” sign which was to be delivered to the fall show.
Sinclair used the “Triple Check” signage in a few select markets from 1956 until they came out with the familiar “Dino” logo in late 1958.

The agreement to purchase the experimental Triple Check sign was the first deal in what would turn out to be a fantastic fall of collecting for me.

In mid August I made a deal for a group of signs that were to be delivered to the fall show in Peotone.
The SuperFlame/H-C porcelain curb sign is one that is seldom offered for sale.

The purchase of these five signs plus the Triple Check are a good example of why it’s important to network with collectors and dealers when attending swap meets and auctions. None of these signs were offered at a swap meet. If it wasn’t for the friendships made through the hobby I may not have known these signs were available. The fall Peotone show was still two months away but I was already anxious to take delivery of the six signs!

This M&M Super Ethyl globe was an ebay purchase. M&M was based in central Illinois. The seller originally had a crazy buy it now price on the globe. After months of negotiations we agreed to a reasonable price that was only $20 more than my original offer.

I found this Pittsburgh Paint sign in an antique mall Labor Day weekend. You’d be hard pressed to find a more colorful porcelain sign.

A buddy from Minnesota asked me to pick up a gas pump for him. While picking up the pump, my wife and I purchased several items. The most interesting, at least to me, being this Soap Box Derby type car.
Back in the day some lucky kid was cruising in style in this 1920’s or 30’s inspired boat tail speedster!

Everyone in the hobby was talking about the upcoming series of auctions featuring Kyle Moore’s former collection. My collecting fund took a big hit with the sign purchases, but I was still planning on attending the first auction in October.

I attended a car show/swap meet in early September. Because of the upcoming auction I hadn’t planned on buying anything at the swap meet. There was a nice die cut Conoco sign that was priced to sell, so of course I had to buy it.

It turns out the guy selling the Conoco sign also had a globe for sale. Not just an ordinary globe, but a metal body Aladdin globe. This is the only known example! Illinois Farm Service is the company that used this globe.

This single sided porcelain Opaline oil cart sign came from the same collection.

My wife and I made a quick trip to the high profile auction in Pennsylvania. I think I bid on twelve items. I was the under bidder (first loser) on eight of them, and totally out to lunch on the other four.
I did buy these two porcelain coated metal globe bodies from friend while at the auction.

Next up was the Thursday night auction that was held in conjunction with the Peotone show. There was one item I really wanted in the auction. It was a high end globe. I made a serious bid on it, but came up short once again.
The Friday auction was a different story. I picked up two graphic capco body globes. “Picture globes” are sought after by collectors.
Before I left the auction I purchased this Johnson Ethyl lens from a fellow collector from Illinois. I’d say I had a pretty good day!

In addition to taking delivery of the six signs I mentioned previously, I was able to purchase several nice items at the Chicagoland show at Peotone.
A couple of unusual Sinclair cans and a rare Sinclair Stock Spray sprayer with good graphics.
A box for Sinclair Extra Duty quarts.

A picker friend from North Carolina made me a great deal on these four NOS capco bodies.

I traded for this cool 1950’s era Ford ignition parts cabinet.

Some of these deals were pre-arranged while others were being in the right place at the right time.
Being in the right place at the right time enabled me to buy the North Star Ethyl and Lion Knix Knox globes. If I had been 20 seconds later I would have missed out on the North Star globe.

I got one more item at the show that I’ll save for a future blog entry.
It truly has been a fantastic fall of collecting for me. Even though my collecting fund has been completely obliterated, I’m thrilled about adding some great items to my collection!

Here it is mid September and I’m wondering where the summer went. I’ve been so busy with work and family commitments that I haven’t had time to update the site. I did find time to add some nice items to my collection. Next month I’ll be taking delivery of several signs. I’m pretty excited about that as some of them are very hard to find. I’ll post pictures and talk about a few of the more interesting ones in a future blog post. I’ve also added a few more globes from Illinois based companies that I’ll talk about in an upcoming blog post. I got a lead on a great metal bodied globe from an Illinois based company today which I hope to add to my collection, and I’m going to pick up a pair of lenses from an old friend next month. There should be plenty for me to talk about so stay tuned!